Early Christian Basilicas: San Vitale and the Holy Sepulchre
San Lorenzo: An Example Among Others
The origin of the Roman tribune is also for pilgrims. The entrance to the atrium is via a staircase. After passing the Basilica of Martyrium, the sides could reach the court of Golgotha and then finally to the rotunda of the Anastasis. With regard to the architects of the Holy Sepulchre, very late sources say it was a Syrian and a Constantinopolitan (Cenobio and Tube). The later buildings do not give the original plan, but we can rebuild it because there are many descriptions of Eusebius, the nun Egeria, and others. In 614, it was destroyed by the Turks. In 1144, the church was called the Crusaders.
Basilica of the Nativity of Bethlehem, 333
(Amended by Justinian)
It is the hole of the birth of Christ. It seems that construction began while the Holy Sepulchre was being built by Constantine, also in a place desecrated by the Romans (a temple in honor of Adonis). Justin in the 2nd century says that Christians worship this place. It has five naves without a transept. The head is octagonal; the genesis is perhaps drawn from an eight-pointed star, announcing the birth of Christ. In the center of the octagon was a gap where you could see the cave of birth.
The major reform Justinian made was replacing the head with a trilobed structure. This reform may be attributable to the church being completely destroyed and burned by a rebellion against the emperor in 529. It is the only one of the Constantinian establishments of Santa Elena, mother of Constantine, respecting the original structure enough (except the change in the header). Eusebius tells us that St. Helena built a basilica on the Mount of Olives, the place of ascension, but that nothing remains.
Time of Justinian: San Vitale in Ravenna
It is the most important building for the vitality of late antiquity. It is very harmonious. The plant is octagonal with columns that have exedras between them. It has a narthex of 30 meters and a surmounted apse. The two triangles of transition between the narthex and the plant served as access to the towers. They are followed by an ambulatory and the presbytery.
The work is linked to Julian Argentario, who funded the work built by the bishop of Ravenna, Ecclesius (521-532), which coincides with Theodoric. With them, construction will start, but the works will stop until you reboot Bishop Victor (538-545). But the mosaics of the head were carried out under the mandate of the first Byzantine bishop, Maximian (546-553), who was responsible for consecrating the building. The vaults are modern.
Inspiration and Influence
- Put in relation to the church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus (square building with an octagonal center, although not very smooth inside. It has two floors with a gallery, like St. Vitale. This building inspired its construction. It emulates the great church within the imperial palace of Constantinople).
- San Vitale was copied into the chapel at Aachen, Charlemagne’s, made in the last years of the eighth century. It is circular, with an octagon in the interior, on two floors.
- The Dome of the Rock also continues with this typology.
When the Carolingians defeated the Lombards, Italian lands became part of the empire. And even for the construction of Aachen, materials were used in Ravenna.
Mosaics of St. Vitale (Sanctuary)
It represented the Emperor as head of the Church on earth. Some regard them as mosaics of Roman tradition, but the technique of Gala Placidia, a century earlier, has already been lost. Teodora appears, in the Roman way, carrying a chalice, like the three kings represented in his robes carrying the offerings. Justinian takes the paten. All of them are directed against the Church on earth, the divine Christ-directed. There are scenes and characters of the Old Testament, like Abraham feeding the angels who announced her son, or the sacrifice of Isaac.